Bunratty Cratloe FC 1

Shannon Town C 3

Darren McNamara ⚽️

Tom Butler ⚽️

Jake Leahy ⚽️

Last Sunday morning Shannon Town C made the short journey to Bunratty to play a very strong Bunratty team who at the start of the day had been unbeaten up until this point. Looking to get their season back on track the C team started strong and controlled possession for the first 20 mins but lacking cutting edge in the final third kept coming up short. The next 25 minutes Bunratty started asserting their dominance on the game by winning battles in midfield and holding possession well but not producing much to bother the Town back 4 and goalkeeper who all held strong. A few feisty challenges were thrown in from both teams and this game now had the look of a local Derby.

The second half began the same way the first ended with Bunratty controlling possession and now creating chances Town goalkeeper Adam Kimber made a few brilliant saves to keep the scores at 0-0. Midway through the second half Town manager Darren Gilmartin made changes bringing on Darren McNamara and Jake Leahy for fresh legs and it was those two who combined for the first goal with Jake coming in from the left hand side to play a beautiful through ball in between the Bunratty center halves for Darren to latch onto and slide in the bottom corner. A few minutes later Town began to smell blood and won a free kick 30 yards out as a result from some sloppy defending from the Bunratty backline. Tom Butler stepped up and drilled a free kick into the top corner that sent the Town sideline and players into delirium. An unbelievable strike from the U19s midfielder which will undoubtedly be one of the goals of the season across all the Clare Leagues.
A few minutes later Jake Leahy picked up the ball close to the sideline and drove at the Bunratty defense and whipped a ball towards the Bunratty goal which found its way into the top corner. An unbelievable impact from the Town man in the short space of time he was on the field. 15 minutes to go and the Town backline held strong with multiple blocks and a few goal line clearances from Shane Mullaney resulting in Bunratty becoming increasingly frustrated and struggling to find a way past the resolute Town backline.

Bunratty with 5 minutes to go found a consolation from a corner but it was Town on the day who came up trumps and ended Bunratty's fine unbeaten run. A fantastic game of football to display the talent on the Third Division. Town will look to kick on from here in their bid for promotion this season and make another massive trip to Ennis Dons this weekend in Lees Road at 2 o clock.

Starting 11: Adam Kimber, Jacob Hassan, Shane Mullaney, Adam Cahill (C), Dermot Monaghan, Rhys Reynolds, Tom Butler, Sean Byrnes, Max Boland, Emmet Morrison, Darragh O Neill.

MOTM: Shane Mullaney